NHL: McDonagh, Girardi look to shut down Flyers' top line

Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux (28) celebrates his goal with teammate Jakub Voracek (93) in the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins last weekend. Giroux and his top line weren't a factor in the Flyers' 4-1 loss on Thursday to the Rangers. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK — If you need to know why so much attention needs to be paid to top Rangers defensive pair Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi during this first-round Stanley Cup playoff series just look at what they do to the Flyers’ top-line gunners.

Through four regular-season games and one playoff game between the teams, McDonagh and Girardi have spent the bulk of their time on the ice defending against the likes of Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek and Scott Hartnell. Hartnell assisted on the Flyers’ lone goal in Game 1 Thursday by Andrew MacDonald in a 4-1 loss to the Rangers. But Giroux and Voracek, the Flyers’ Nos. 1 and 2 point-producers during the regular season with 86 and 62, respectively, didn’t get as much as a shot on goal in that first playoff game.

What’s more, that trio combined for only one goal and four points in the four regular-season games between the teams, far below their cumulative norm.

Giroux didn’t seem ready with an explanation, perhaps he didn’t want to be. Asked what it was about McDonagh and Girardi that has had his line off its game so frequently, he said, “Sometimes it clicks and sometimes you aren’t able to get the bounces. This year we weren’t able to get them, but regular season and playoffs aren’t the same, and now we’re just focused on Game 2.”

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That comes Sunday at High Noon at Madison Square Garden, which arguably could be defined as a must-win for the Flyers ... at least from a pyschological standpoint.

Lose this game and it’ll be 10 straight Madison Square disappointments for the Flyers at the Garden dating to Feb. 20, 2011.

“We didn’t play the way we wanted in Game 1,” Giroux said. “Defensively we can be better and that’s how we can get some more chances offensively. We just need to tie them up.”

“We know what they’re doing,” Voracek said. “They’re very hard on us. They close the gap on us very good when other teams don’t. They give you less time to make a play. I think that’s the biggest difference. But like I said, the regular season is completely different from the playoffs. So just because they outplayed us in the first game doesn’t mean they will outplay us in the second.”

Despite the accolades being filtered to him through the media and from the other locker room, McDonagh doesn’t seem to be soaking it in too easily.

When asked about the obvious level of success he and Girardi have had on that top Flyers line through the season, McDonagh didn’t seem to be buying into it.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a complete success by any means,” McDonagh said. “They do a lot for their team. They’re creating and getting momentum on their side, too. Even if they’re not shining on the scoreboard they’re creating a lot.

“I think we are just focusing as a unit of five out there. It’s not anybody in particular. We’re doing a good job of recognizing when they’re on the ice, maybe playing a little more simple; getting pucks in deep and making them defend and go back in their own zone so they don’t have the energy to get down ice.”

McDonagh does his handiwork mostly with speed, Girardi with physicality. Against the Flyers’ best group of scorers, it’s been a very effective combination.

“Obviously their D are pretty good at moving the puck,” Giroux said. “We have to do a better job of getting a better forecheck.”

For his part, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault might be a believer that the Flyers’ top-liners can and will do just that during this series.

On the theory that his top defensive pair is enjoying a dominant advantage over the Flyers’ top line of forwards, Vigneault shrugged and said, “Those players are so skilled and so determined on the ice, maybe we’ve just gotten lucky.”

Yeah, that’s it. Luck.

Asked if he at least thought his team was frustrating Giroux, Voracek and Hartnell, Vigneault asked back, “After one game?”

Someone suggested that Giroux, in particular might be feeling the heat, but he said if he was, that’s only a good thing.

“It’s good pressure, I think,” Giroux said. “You want to be in this position. You want to be in the playoffs, you want to be in charge and you want to be the one making the difference. That’s the best part about playoffs.”